Tommy and Emily discuss what is Christmas? What? are the presents for? Why do we give presents?

English My Way

The meaning of Christmas

“I think one of the most pleasant surprises i had in recent memory would have to be a wonderful surprise i received from my parents about two years ago. It was on my 20th birthday, and I remember at that time I wasn't able to go home to celebrate as I had some important exams coming up in college, and I was actually feeling a little homesick. 

The day started like any other day, and it really didn't feel like my birthday, but then out of the blue I received a message to go to the mailroom as there was a package waiting for me. I quickly went to find it, with great anticipation, wondering what it might be. 

It was a box, neatly wrapped with a birthday card stuck  on top, which I opened first. The card was from my parents wishing me a happy birthday, saying how proud of me they were and hoping I would like the gift. I now really couldn't  wait to see what was inside the box, and opened it right there in the mailroom. I was blown away by what I found inside the box, and really couldn't believe my eyes, when I discovered the laptop of my dreams. 

I was absolutely dumb struck to receive such a wonderful surprise, and was over the moon with joy. I immediately phoned my parents to express my happiness and appreciation for such an amazing gift………. words actually failed me when my mother answered the phone, but of course she understood how happy I was.

IELTS 85 Speaking

Describe a surprise that made you happy - IELTS speaking may 2022

日常用语

it's all Greek to me!

Working 

1. 이 빵은 맛있는데 조금 작아요.
2. 한국어는 어려운데 정말 재미있어요.
3. 제 친구는 많이 먹는데, 날씬해요.
4. 저는 많이 자는데 피곤해요.
5. 수업을 들었는데, 잘 모르겠어요.


[Translation]
1.This bread is tasty but a little bit small. 이 빵은 맛있는데 조금 작아요.
2. Korean is hard but very fun. 한국어는 어려운데 정말 재미있어요.
3. My friend eats a lot, but is slim. 제 친구는 많이 먹는데, 날씬해요.
4. I sleep a lot, but tired. 저는 많이 자는데 피곤해요.
5. I took a class but I don’t understand. 수업을 들었는데, 잘 모르겠어요.


Listening Practice

[4] V는데, A은/ㄴ데: however

En este episodio hablaremos sobre la cumbia, su historia y sus diferentes estilos en Argentina. ¡No te lo pierdas!

Porteña

Cumbia argentina

Spanish México

2 EL PORFIRIATO

BARRIOS DE LA CIUDAD DE MÉXICO.

In this episode we will learn some speaking skills at work.
--------------------------------------------------
It is recommended:
Step 1: Gist listening. Listen to get the main idea. (more times if necessary)
Step 2: Read the text to find out words you didn't get, then look up the dictionary. 
Step 3: Listen and imitate as much as you can without looking at the text.
Step 4: Write down what you hear if you want to practise writing.
-------------------------------------------------- 
大家好，我是Yuli。欢迎收听我的播客。
今天想和大家聊一聊职场的话题。如果你的领导和你说辛苦了，你应该怎么回答呢？如果你是领导，你更喜欢什么样的回答呢？杨天真是公司的老板，我们来听听她的建议吧。
当领导或者长辈跟你说辛苦了，你该怎么回答才能把这个话聊下去呢？给你几个高情商的应对方案。我们大多数人听到领导说辛苦了，第一反应回答说，唉不辛苦不辛苦。其实呢领导说辛苦了，一方面也是客气，一方面也是你工作的肯定，他也是想表达一种感谢。所以这个答案呢根据你领导的类型，不同类型的领导应该给与不同的回答方案。
第一，你的领导如果比较注重权威，是一个比较有官威的领导。那这种领导呢其实就是要你懂得感恩，知道TA给了你一个工作机会，所以你就回答TA说：“谢谢领导给与这个机会让我锻炼，我确实通过这个机会成长了不少。这点辛苦跟收获比起来其实不算什么，我会好好继续努力的。”那么领导就会有一种大满足的感觉，觉得我果然选对人了。
第二呢就是老师型的领导。有一种领导呢，其实TA是比较好为人师的，很愿意指导你。那么遇到这种领导的时候，你可以这么回答：“谢谢领导的关心。其实呢，我把我这次工作已经总结成文字了，有一些我做得好的地方和一些做得不好的地方。甚至呢，我还想象了一下，可能未来我们能怎么做，有一个方案给您。你要得空的话，可以给我指导指导。”这样呢，领导就会觉得哇这小孩子真不错，既对当下有总结，还对未来有规划，同时很尊重自己的意见。这样你能创造跟领导的进一步的交流机会。
第三呢，还有一种领导是比较和蔼的，喜欢跟员工打成一片。遇到这样的领导呢，你就可以这样回复：“谢谢领导的认可。其实不光我辛苦，所有的小伙伴都挺帮忙的，要不然看在大家这么努力的份上，您请大家搓顿饭吧。”这种调侃式呢，比较受用于这种和蔼的领导。TA会觉得你这个小朋友不贪功，知道团队的作用。那他也许就趁机搞了个团建活动等等。这都是一种比较好的促进和蔼型领导跟大家打成一片，更认可你的方法。以上，你学会了吗？
你觉得哪些方法适合你？留言告诉我吧。我们下期见。
--------------------------------------------------
职场/zhí chǎng/Workplace
长辈/zhǎng bèi/Elders
高情商/gāo qíng shāng/High Emotional Intelligence
应对方案	/yìng duì fāng àn/Solutions
肯定/kěn dìng/Affirmation
权威/quán wēi/authority
官威/guān wēi/bureaucratic airs
锻炼/duàn liàn/anneal (oneself)
好为人师	/hào wéi rén shī/like to lecture other people
指导/zhǐ dǎo/guide,lecture
得空/dé kòng/have time
规划/guī huà	/planning
和蔼/hé ǎi/amiable
打成一片/dǎ chéng yī piàn/play well with others
看在~的份上/kàn zài~de fèn shàng/for the sake of
搓顿饭/cuō dùn fàn/have a meal
调侃/tiáo kǎn/crack a joke
受用于/shòu yòng yú	/be useful for
趁机/chèn jī/take the opportunity to
团建/tuán jiàn/team building